Loudoun County Residents Weigh In On Metro Silver Line Funding

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LEESBURG, Va. (CBSDC) — Hundreds of Loudoun County residents lined up for their chance to voice their opinion on the proposed Metro Silver Line to Dulles Airport.

The opponents of the line cite the enormous cost of construction as the primary reason for their position. Congestion is also a concern.

“We haven’t slowed down in the county from building and it won’t,” one resident said at the hearing. “Just wait until they develop (One Loudoun) and all along that whole corridor. You won’t be able to move.”

One Loudon is an all encompassing development being constructed near Route 7 and the Loudoun County Parkway. The area will provide residential, office, commercial and recreational spaces in a single community.

Construction costs of Phase II of the project, which runs from Reston to Dulles Airport, are estimated at $2.7 billion. Loudoun County would be responsible for roughly $260 million.

Proponents of the line say its cost will be offset by the commercial boom the rail extension would bring to the local economy. They say currently the county is not generating enough revenue from commercial taxes.

“I can see advantages to this to county residents no matter where they live whether they are close or far away,” another resident said who was a proponent of the Silver Line.

Tony Howard of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce said funding the project was a “no brainer.”

All-News 99.1 WNEW’s John Domen reports more speakers were in favor of funding the project than not on Monday.

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors are expected to vote on the contributing funds to the line on July 3.